Sweep-blade for conveyers.



. VViinesses:

.J. H. MIGHBNER, JR. SWEEP BLADE FOR GONVEYERS. APPL1OATION FILED SEPT.11-, 1909.

984,693, Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

In penzor cio/mHMic/wner Jr:

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J. 'H. MIGHBNBR, J11,

swBEP' BLADE FOR GONVBYERS.

APPLIOATIONTILED SEPT. 11, 1909.

984,693. Patented Febc2l, 1911.

2 BHEETS-BHEBT 2.

Witnesses:

, UNITE JOHN H. MICI-IENER, an, on NEW YORK, 1v. COMPANY, on NEW YORK, 1v. Y., A

Y., ASSIGNOR TO MICHENER STOWAGE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SWEEP-BLADE FOR CONVEYERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Application filed September 11, 1909. Serial No. 517,277.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. MIGHENER, J12, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sweep-Blades for Conveyers, of which the follOWiIlg is a specification.

This invention relates to sweep blades for conveyers, particularly such conveyers as comprise an endless chain carrying buckets, flights or blades.

The object of my improvements is to provide means for distributing material over a wider area, particularly in an irregular circumscribed field than is possible with rigid blades.

IVith these ends in view my improvements comprise features which are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 represents a plan view of conveying mechanism equipped with my improvements. Fig. 2 is an elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one arrangement of de tails of my improvements. Fig. 4 is an elevation corresponding with Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modification of my improvements, and Fig. 6 is a plan view corresponding therewith.

The present invention is in the nature of improvements 011 the subject matter of my copending application Ser. No. 451,064 filed Aug. 31, 1908. In that application one or more endless conveyer chains provided. with rigid blades thereacross are illustrated installed in the coal bunkers of a ship for trimming the coal in said bunkers.

Referring now to the drawings of the present application it will appear that while rigid blades as 1 of chain 3 can distribute material supplied to them, in a path equal in width to the length of said blades, it is necessary to arrange chains as 3, 5 so that said blades 4 will not strike against frames or braces as 6, 7. This obviously leaves spaces or pockets 8, 80 which cannot be filled by said blades 4:. However with my improved sweep blades said pockets may be effectively filled.

In Fig. 1 is shown a portion of endless chain 3 supported for movement in the horizontal plane on sprockets 9, 9. Power may i be communlcated to one of said sprockets by I means not shown. A portion of another endless chain 5 is also shown but no supports are shown therefor. Said chain 5 is illustrated as passing over the face of transfor disk 10 and which disk is supported for revolution on axial shaft 11 having sprocket 12 in mesh with one run of chain 3. Said sprocket shaft and disk may be rotated by said chain.

13 indicates the outside wall of a ships bunker in which my improved apparatus is illustrated as installed. The usual ribs or frames 6, 6 project inwardly from said wall 13 and braces as 7 may at intervals project inwardly still farther. Pivotally mounted at intervals as 15, 15 on chain 3 are sweep blades 16, 17 arranged to swing horizontally. Said blades are preferably arranged to stand normally symmetrically as to chain 3 and at an angle with each other of less then 180 degrees. Said blades may be held in their normal positions and urged to their work by springs 18 conveniently mounted on plungcrs 19 pivoted at 20 to said blades. Ears 21 mounted on chain 3 rearwardly of said blades 16, 17 take the thrust of said springs and provide guides for plungers 19. It is obvious that blades as 17 in passing by projections such as sleeve 100 of disk 10 or frames 6, or braces 7 may be allowed to strike thereagainst and be folded back chainward on their pivots, but to relieve said blades of undue shock from such striking and to cause the apparatus to work quietly I provide cams as 22, 23, 2 1 suitably supported from deck 25 or adjacent frames as 6.

In Figs. 3 and 4C are illustrated a modified form of my sweep 'blades in which said blades 160, 170 are pivotally mounted on posts 26, 260 downwardly reaching from cross bar 27 of chain 3. Said blades 160, 170 have forwardly reaching arms 161, 171 respectively the free ends of which are connected by pull spring 28.

Another modification of my improved sweep blades is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein blade 17 pivotally mounted at 15 has arm 150 fixed to the pivotal shaft there of. Said arm 150 carries at its free end roll 151'for engagement with cam 220 depending at 221, 221 from deck 25. By these means blade 17 may be caused to follow a positive predetermined path as indicated by dotted line 107 Fig. 6. After passing cam 220 sweep blade 17 will follow idly in the path of chain 3 as shown in dotted lines in the upper part of Fig. 6.

The operation of my improved sweep blades as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is as follows: Springs as 18, 28 are intended to be of sufficient strength to hold said sweep blades in their normal positions against the ordinary resistance of the coal or other material to be distributed but to yield under excessive load or when encountering the cams provided therefor or frames and shafts in their path. Referring now to blade 17 on chain 3 in the upper part of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2 it will be seen that said blade has just encountered cam 22 and been partially folded back thereby. Said blade 17 will continue to be folded back more and more, toward chain 3 until said blade has passed shaft 11 when said blade will slowly open out again under the pressure of spring 18 thereof. Said blade 17 now passes on chain 3 around sprockets 9, 9 and encounters cam 24 on frame 7. Said blade is thereupon again folded back toward its carrying chain 3 and presently runs off the end of said cam 24: and under the pressure of spring 18 throws the load of material before it into pocket 8. It will thus be seen that with my improved sweep blades runs of chain may be efliciently spaced farther apart than otherwise and that portions of bunkers otherwise inaccessible may be filled.

I claim:

1. A trimming mechanism for bulk material including in combination, a conveyer chain having a rigid blade and a yieldable blade mounted thereon, said rigid blade being positioned to scrape a path symmetrical to said chain and said yieldable blade being positioned to scrape a path beyond one border of the path of said rigid blade, said yieldable blade being yieldable into the path of the rigid blade.

2. A trimming mechanism for bull: material including in combination, a conveyer chain having a rigid blade and a yieldable blade mounted thereon, and means for urging said yieldable blade to traverse a path beyond one border of the path of said rigid blade, and means for retracting said yieldable blade during a portion of its travel to within the path of said rigid blade.

3. A. trimming mechanism for bulk material including in combination, a eonveyer chain having a rigid blade and a pair of blades pivoted normal to the plane of travel of said chain, said pivots being positioned at the borders respectively of the path of said rigid blade and means for urging said pivoted blades to engage the bulk material.

at. A trimming mechanism for bulk material including in combination, a conveyer chain having a rigid blade and a pair of blades pivoted normal to the plane of travel of said chain and means for causing said pivoted blades to engage thebulk material beyond the borders of the path of the rigid blades.

Signed at New York, N. Y., this 11th day of August, 1909, before two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. MICHENER, Jr.

lVitnesses A. Boss MAoKAY, CHARLES W. LA RUE. 

